Why Umpqua Should Spark Gun Control Legislation

How can someone shoot nine people? Well, we can't really ask him, but we can ask our society how it was possible for something so horrific as the Umpqua Community College shooting to occur. Things like this have become so common, and as an American, it makes me embarrassed to live in a country where we allow people such easy access to lethal weapons.

This started to occur to me when sitting in lunch, and my friend and I were trying to come up with a mini debate topic for our public speaking class. She brings up gun control and how she is a full believer in the Second Amendment. I respond saying I disagree completely. We decide to go for it on this topic because we both have completely opposite opinions. This just so happened to be before the Oregon shooting. I saw this pop up all over my social media feeds and felt like I needed to show my passion for safer gun laws and try to show others. The most powerful argument I came across was that adding more restrictions to gun purchases can't make us any less safe, it can only make us safer. Why shouldn't we take any steps necessary to ensure our safety?

As I performed my debate, I started thinking about what could possibly be a legit drawback to more gun control. The only thing that really stuck me was that my friend argued that a lot of the arguments against gun control had to do with protecting the individual's rights, whether it be privacy or self-defense. I think that we need to look at the bigger picture and realize that we are safer as a whole country without them. If people who will eventually commit these acts of gun violence have access to guns, then they will be able to carry out mass shootings. It is as simple as that.

(Cambio Col[lab] is a lab for young creators to showcase their passion and develop their voice. Like what you're seeing? Share it to support their effort!)

Stay fetch. Sign up for The Cray, our daily roundup of all things buzzworthy. From Kylie Jenner's trendsetting style (btw, puberty goals AF) to life-changing tech news (tweeting an emoji to order a pizza #YES), The Cray is all you need to impress the squad.